Show them the money?

[Ramon Ram]

With Donald, Stafford, Miller, looking at big pay days, how will we afford a team? I was hoping Stafford would get a cap friendly new contract and Miller and Donald seem to want to cash in. Tough to run it back if everyone wants a bonus for winning this year.


AARON DONALDDL, LOS ANGELES RAMS

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Rams could restructure Aaron Donald's contract to give him "a big raise" in 2022.​

Donald has three years remaining on his deal with LA and is scheduled to make $14.2 million in 2022. Should Donald return to the team after talking openly about retirement, Rapoport said the team would take a "long, hard look" at the all-pro's contract in hopes to boosting his 2022 pay. Donald at the Rams' Super Bowl Parade last month started a "run it back" chant, fueling speculation he'll return as the centerpiece of LA's defense.



VON MILLERLB, LOS ANGELES RAMS

Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson reports the Chargers, Packers and Broncos have interest in impending free agent Von Miller.​

That is in addition to "strong mutual interest" between Miller and the Rams. Wilson reports Miller could still command up to $20 million annually, which would make him difficult to bring back for cap-strapped Los Angeles. We doubt Miller would be interested in a Broncos reunion, though that would change in a hurry if Aaron Rodgers were the quarterback. Fresh off a highly-disruptive postseason, 33-year-old Miller (in three weeks) is going to get paid.

VON MILLERLB, LOS ANGELES RAMS

Von Miller posted photos of himself in a Broncos uniform with captions "58 or 40" and "I wonder if they will give me my old locker back?"​

Miller wore number 58 with the Broncos and now wears 40 with the Rams. Miller has already been tied to the Broncos in free agency and his Instagram posts leave little doubt that he is open to a return. The Rams, who traded second and third-round picks for Miller in November, are reportedly interested in signing Miller, as are the Packers and Chargers. With three contending teams interested in him, a return to the Broncos would be a sentimental play for Miller, unless Aaron Rodgers lands in Denver. Miller, who turns 33 in March, appears to have a strong market, with his next deal reportedly having potential to be in the ballpark of $20 million a year


MATTHEW STAFFORDQB, LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue reports Matthew Stafford could get as much as $45 million per year in new contract with the Rams.​

Piecing together a new deal for Stafford is a "priority" for the Rams this offseason, according to Rodrigue, and could dictate what the team does in free agency. Rodrigue said league sources expect a new contract for Stafford, 34, to be in the three to four year range. If Stafford lands the $45 million per year, he would be paid around the same as Kirk Cousins. The Rams appear more than happy to reward the Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out, Von. We would have still won the SB without him, we led the league in sacks before the trade was made. Not a fan of it.

 

[ottoman89]

Yeah, the situation has certainly changed since the SB parade. AD DOES deserve his pay raise, Stafford DOES deserve his pay raise and in about a year or 2, his contract will look team friendly compared to other QB deals that will happen.

Von, I want back but don't want to overspend on a soon to be 33yr old EDGE. That's what desperate teams do. We'll shop the mid tier guys in F/A and will be just fine. Hell, I'd be welcome to bringing Fowler back. He excelled with AD.

I DO REALLY WANT OBj back.

 

[ScotsRam]

Just playing devils advocate, would you take less than "market value" in your job if it made the organisations goals easier to achieve?

 

[wmc540]

Just playing devils advocate, would you take less than "market value" in your job if it made the organisations goals easier to achieve?

If I made millions, yes.

 

[OntarioRam]

I am not convinced anyone will pay Von what he is seeking. He is getting up there in years. He proved he still has it with the Rams. But lots of guys look good playing alongside Arron Donald. I hope the Rams keep Miller. But not at $20 million. There is always a desperate GM out there, so maybe he gets that much, but the logic in my suggests he would fall short. It would have sounded crazy even as recently as December. It took Von a while to come on in Rams colours.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Just playing devils advocate, would you take less than "market value" in your job if it made the organisations goals easier to achieve?

Our market values, at least in my profession, are no where near meaning the same thing as a NFL player of great status. I get it's a free market and the NFL makes tons of money, but I still think players make way too much fucking money for playing a game. The money they make can set up their kids kids for life. Just what I believe in, but to each their own.

 

[Tano]

If I made millions, yes.

I have always been the type to ask when is it too much

Plus I have always asked why do the others at the job who contribute so much to the company's success make a pittance of what CEOs and owners make.

If I was one of the best football players I would take a good portion of the market value and then say give the rest to the team so we can be winners.

I would hope to be part of a good organization who would do just that.

 

[OntarioRam]

If I made millions, yes.

Agreed. $15 million surely is enough, to pick an arbitrary number. Why disrupt the chance to run it back to try and get $18 million instead of $15 million? Espcially when you've already made $100s of millions to date? It strikes me as greedy and selfish. You already have enough money to change the life of generations to come, so I don't buy the "this is for my grandkids" line.

I suspect ego is answer. Players want to be the highest paid, both for ego, and also some will view it as a sign of respect for what they bring to the table. I do get that, somewhat, but also think that any reasonable person should be able to tell when they are being low-balled or disrespected vs. when a franchise is negotiating in good faith but trying to keep a stacked roster together.

At the end of the day, it is a business, and players are fully entitled to go after every last cent, so I harbour no resentment for it. Before you are in their position (and almost none of us will ever be), it is also impossible to know for certain how you would approach things.

EDIT - I do consider social media teases in an attempt to gain leverage to be tacky and in poor form, be it for Miller or any other free agent in the NFL. I agree with other posters on that.

Imagine the outrage if NFL franchises did the same in advance of the NFL draft, for contract leverage, hinting a player could be easily replaced via draft selections? Players would throw a tantrum about the disrespect. And they would be right. Poor form.

 

[payote75]

I know it's fair and I understand the leverage. I do however find it a little bit in poor taste if von is truly doing that with Broncos uni and saying stuff like that. I find it tacky and am bit disappointed. Theres negotiation and then there is negotiating but with a tad of disrespect in there. He has sung a totally different tune up until now so we will see.

 

[ScotsRam]

You all have better moral compasses than I do then.

 

[BatteringRambo]

What a HARD job? I fucked up then like many and I work my ass off like I'm sure a lot of you others do. How hard is it to; type, record, tweet etc. America got fucking lazy! Anyone hiring? I want to do physical labor again maybe pick up and clean JJohns, even at 41 now fuck this WFH bullshit! She's not even hot or fit, which is the initial allure.

No shit Jourdan!

The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue reports Matthew Stafford could get as much as $45 million per year in new contract with the Rams.​

Piecing together a new deal for Stafford is a "priority" for the Rams this offseason, according to Rodrigue, and could dictate what the team does in free agency. Rodrigue said league sources expect a new contract for Stafford, 34, to be in the three to four year range. If Stafford lands the $45 million per year, he would be paid around the same as Kirk Cousins. The Rams appear more than happy to reward the Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

 

[Psycho_X]

What a HARD job? I fucked up then like many and I work my ass off like I'm sure a lot of you others do. How hard is it to; type, record, tweet etc. America got fucking lazy! Anyone hiring? I want to do physical labor again maybe pick up and clean JJohns, even at 41 now fuck this WFH bullshit! She's not even hot or fit, which is the initial allure.

No shit Jourdan!

The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue reports Matthew Stafford could get as much as $45 million per year in new contract with the Rams.​

Piecing together a new deal for Stafford is a "priority" for the Rams this offseason, according to Rodrigue, and could dictate what the team does in free agency. Rodrigue said league sources expect a new contract for Stafford, 34, to be in the three to four year range. If Stafford lands the $45 million per year, he would be paid around the same as Kirk Cousins. The Rams appear more than happy to reward the Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

 

[Flatlyner]

If Von goes back to the Broncos it will make me sick. They have literally rented him to us for the last what, 8 games, for a 2nd and 3rd. Yeah he was great for us ,but painful for us and amazing for them.

 

[dang]

Just playing devils advocate, would you take less than "market value" in your job if it made the organisations goals easier to achieve?

I will never know but I’m pretty sure I would recognize when I’ve made enough $$$ for my family and the next 4 generations and factor in location, organization, happiness and success into contract settlement. After financial success would you prefer playing for McVay in sunny LA LA land or for grumpy ass Belichek in cold ass Boston?

 

[TXRams86]

If Von goes back to the Broncos it will make me sick. They have literally rented him to us for the last what, 8 games, for a 2nd and 3rd. Yeah he was great for us ,but painful for us and amazing for them.

He helped get us a Lombardi. If Snead did it again this year with another player, you bet your ass I’d be happy to give up a second and third rounder for another Lombardi. Assuming it yields that success of course. Otherwise it sucks.

 

[TXRams86]

For all I care, Miller can walk back to Denver. They’ll welcome him back with open arms and he can retire there and cry his happy tears. He came to us for a specific purpose, that purpose has been fulfilled so I’m happy with the outcome. You play to win it all every season and we did just that. Next year is a different beast and I can only hope we write the same story - with or without Miller. But getting into a bidding war with Denver because he has emotional ties to them isn’t a good business decision when we have plenty of other holes to fill.

 

[Ramon Ram]

Just playing devils advocate, would you take less than "market value" in your job if it made the organisations goals easier to achieve?

I don't think it's just the organizationals goals as much as the players/organizational goals. These top tier players have all made enough to take a hit for the sake of winning or so it would seem. The concern here is that they make it sound that way until they win then it's more about the money, respect etc. Tom Brady looks more and more like theeee guy who made the concession for the good of all.

 

[Turducken]

Just playing devils advocate, would you take less than "market value" in your job if it made the organisations goals easier to achieve?

Depends on a lot of factors. Mostly my own happiness.

Von is the best judge of his, but if I were him I'd think long about the possibility of a third ring and retiring as the player with the most sacks from the LB position in NFL history.

He probably gets that playing beside Donald for another 3-4 years, or he might pocket an additional $12-16m playing for some 8-9 teams in Denver.

He's probably first ballot HOF either way, but he's not sniffing another Lombardi and 160+ career sacks in Denver.

 

[LA_vision]

I feels like Von is using the Broncos for leverage. Do they even want him back if they dont get Rodgers or Wilson?

I think Miller sees the the number of teams willing to pay big bucks for an aging rusher are very slim.